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Many of our customers have asked how we came up with our company name,
Baker Street Resources. Those of you
that are Sherlock Holmes fans are aware that
221b Baker Street (London) was the
residence of Holmes and Dr. Watson, but that still doesn't answer the question, does it? So, for those of you that asked (or didn't ask, but want to know) this page is for you.
How We Chose Our Name
When we started our
used IT equipment business in 1998, we wanted a company name people would remember.
Since we were to be an all-in-one resource (and
solution) for buying and selling equipment, we decided
on a name tied to this theme. Sherlock Holmes, unequaled at solving problems for his troubled clientele, immediately came to mind
(our founder is a Holmes fan, by the way). Since
Holmes' clients often showed up at
the doorstep of 221b Baker Street, we decided that Baker Street would suit us perfectly. And, since we are a "resource" for our customers' needs, our company name was complete. Though our clients are not as desperate as Holmes' clients tend to be, they often need help finding the right solution, which happens to be what we do best. And again, like Holmes, we always enjoy a happy and satisfied client!
Who Was Sherlock Holmes?
Why, of course, Sherlock Holmes was the man who put the "detect" in detective and practiced forensic science and criminal profiling years ahead of the rest of the world. Sherlock Holmes was also the first consulting detective the world has known and the subject of a series of 60 memoirs chronicled by his good friend and associate, Dr. John D. Watson. Residing at 221b Baker Street,
Holmes and Watson solved numerous cases between 1887 and 1927. During that time, the duo made Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the man behind the detective and his adventures, a very wealthy man. The first Sherlock Holmes mystery, "A Study in Scarlet", was published in 1887 in Beeton's Christmas Annual. After a time, Doyle tired of his hero and decided to end the series in "The Final Problem". At the conclusion of this episode, Holmes and his arch-enemy, Professor Moriarity fought hand-to-hand at Reichenbach Falls and plummeted to their deaths. Later Doyle decided to pen a flashback which became Sherlock Holmes' most famous case, "The Hound of the Baskervilles". Under heavy pressure from his fans, Doyle finally resurrected Holmes in "The Empty House" and continued on with the series. Holmes later told Watson, "Well then, about that chasm. I had no serious difficulty in getting out of it, for the very simple reason that I never was in it." But it was indeed the end of Professor Moriarity. The last of the 60 Sherlock Holmes chronicles, "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place," appeared in March of 1927, yet Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories have lived on. If you haven't read Holmes, just pick up a copy of "The Complete Sherlock Holmes",
which presents the 60 stories in the order they were written, and you're sure to become a Holmes fan!
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
This famous incident, from "Silver Blaze" is typical of Holmes' thought process. While investigating the theft of an expensive race horse from its stable, Inspector Gregory of Scotland Yard asked Holmes,
"Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?" Holmes replied, "To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time." Inspector Gregory replied, "The dog did nothing in the night-time", after which Holmes
replied, "That was the curious incident." The failure of the dog to bark
when
Silver Blaze was stolen indicated that the dog must have known the thief, a crucial material fact which considerably reduced the number of suspects and eventually helped Holmes solve the case and return Silver Blaze back to its rightful owner.
Maxims of Sherlock Holmes
There are certain notable quotes from Sherlock Holmes that describe his beliefs.
Though most deal with his investigative techniques, some are a bit more philosophical in nature:
"It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
"It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts."
"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact."
"I never make an exception. An exception disproves the rule."
"You see, but you do not observe."
"Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore, it is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should dwell."
"In solving a problem of this sort, the grand thing is to be able to reason backwards."
"The more bizarre a thing is, the less mysterious it proves to be."
"I never guess. It is a shocking habit."
"Depend upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace."
"It is my business to know things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others overlook."
"You can never foretell what any one man will do, but you can say with precision what an average number will be up to. Individuals vary, but percentages remain constant."
"Where there is no imagination, there is no horror."
Notable Quotes of Sherlock Holmes
Those
that have read the 56 short stories and 4 full length novels
have surely enjoyed the many notable quotes of Sherlock Holmes.
Here are some of our favorites.
"I suppose I am the only one in the world. I'm a consulting detective, if you can understand what that is."
"Come, Watson, come! The game is afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and come!"
"Perhaps when a man has special knowledge and special powers like my own, it rather encourages him to seek a complex explanation when a simpler one is at hand."
"Woman's heart and mind are insoluble puzzles to the male. Murder might be condoned or explained, and yet some smaller offense might rankle."
"There, Watson, this infernal case has haunted me for ten days. I hereby banish it completely from my presence."
(About Moriarity) "It is a question of cubic capacity. A man with so large a brain must have something in it."
"And yet the motives of women are so inscrutable . . . their most trivial action may mean volumes, or their most extraordinary conduct may depend upon a hairpin or curling-tongs."
"It is stupidity rather than courage to refuse to recognize danger when it is close upon you."
"Although he (Lestrade) is absolutely devoid of reason, he is as tenacious as a bulldog when he once understands what he has to do."
"According to my experience it is not possible to reach the platform of a Metropolitan train without exhibiting one's ticket."
"There is an appalling directness about your questions, Watson. They come at me like bullets."
"To let the brain work without sufficient material is like racing an engine. It racks itself to pieces."
"You have a grand gift of silence, Watson. It makes you quite invaluable as a companion."
"The Englishman is a patient creature, but at present his temper is a little inflamed and it would be as well not to try him too far."
"Watson here will tell you that I never can resist a touch of the dramatic."
"You know that a conjurer gets no credit when once he has explained his trick; and if I show you too much of my method of working, you will come to the conclusion that I am a very ordinary individual after all."
"And What Does That Tell You, Watson?"
Holmes and Watson were on a well-deserved camping trip after solving a particularly intense case. They set up their tent, enjoyed a good meal and
a bottle of wine, then retired for the night. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend, "Watson, look up and tell me what you see."
Watson replied, "I see millions and millions of stars, Holmes."
"And what does that tell you, Watson?" Holmes asked.
Watson pondered for a moment. "Well, Holmes, astronomically, it tells me that
since there are millions of
stars, there are possibly millions of
planets. Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Astrologically,
I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the
time is about a quarter past three. Meteorogically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Why, Holmes, what does it tell you?"
Holmes was silent for a moment, then spoke: "It tells me, Watson, that someone has stolen our tent!"
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